Arkas Bunker has started using biofuel in the Turkish maritime industry for the first time. With the refueling of Arkas Line’s container vessel, Matilde A, a marine fuel containing environmentally friendly bio-components, entirely produced from waste in Türkiye, has been used for the first time in Türkiye, according to Arkas Bunker release.
Arkas Bunker carried out the Bio24F refueling of Arkas Line’s container vessel Matilde A at the port of Marport, also an Arkas subsidiary, in line with its sustainability goals.
The fuel called Bio24F is made by blending 24% ISCC-certified used cooking oil (UCO) with 76% very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO).
The UCO component of the biofuel is derived from processing used cooking oil collected from restaurants and food facilities.
Rules set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and carbon taxes imposed by the European Union have increased the demand for eco-friendly and low-carbon fuels.
As it is reported, recently a new regulation by the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA) opened the door for using biofuels as marine fuel in Türkiye.
Seckin Gul, General Manager of Arkas Bunker, said: “As Arkas Bunker, we have been working for many years on solutions that comply with international regulations and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vessels. Since the main source of these emissions is the fuel they use, we have focused heavily on sustainable marine fuels.
“About three years ago, we started research and development on bio-components by taking a closer look at biofuels.
“In February, we achieved our goal for 2024 by obtaining the ISCC certification, becoming Türkiye’s first ISCC-certified maritime company.
“Now, we are marking another first in Türkiye’s marine fuel industry. Our ISCC-certified product, ‘Bio24F,’ will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vessels, making it much easier for shipowners to achieve their sustainability goals.”
